Screening questionnaires for substance abuse post brain injury: a review.

Objective: To assess the psychometric properties of the available assessment questionnaires for substance abuse studied within a brain injury population.

Methods: A literature search was conducted on MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Embase databases. Articles published in English from inception through March 2018 on the screening questionnaires used to identify substance abuse post brain injury were reviewed.

Direct comparison of the abilities of bone marrow mesenchymal versus hematopoietic stem cells to reverse hyperglycemia in diabetic NOD.SCID mice.

Both bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) improve glycemic control in diabetic mice, but their kinetics and associated changes in pancreatic morphology have not been directly compared. Our goal was to examine the time course of improvements in glucose tolerance and associated changes in β-cell mass and proliferation following transplantation of equivalent numbers of HSC or MSC from the same bone marrow into diabetic non-obese diabetic severe combined immune deficiency (NOD.SCID) mice.

Cognitive behavioural therapy for aggression among individuals with moderate to severe acquired brain injury: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Aggression is common after an acquired brain injury (ABI). Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is a form of psychotherapy, in which therapists help patients to identify their maladaptive behaviours.

Objective: The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness of CBT interventions in treating aggression in an ABI population.

Pharmacological management of agitation among individuals with moderate to severe acquired brain injury: A systematic review.

Objective: To conduct a systematic review examining the effectiveness of pharmacological management of agitation among individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Data Sources: MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, and PsycINFO databases were searched for all relevant articles published in English from 1980 to January 2016.

Study Selection: Studies were included for analysis all participants had moderate to severe ABI, n ≥ 3, and a pharmacological intervention was provided for the treatment of agitation and its effectiveness was assessed.

Timely access to inpatient rehabilitation after stroke: a qualitative study of perceived barriers and potential solutions in Ontario, Canada.

Purpose: Stroke units have been established as best practice care, in part because they offer timely initiation of rehabilitation. Experts in Ontario, Canada recommend that eligible patients be transferred to inpatient rehabilitation (on average) by day 5 after ischemic stroke and day 7 after a hemorrhagic stroke. This study explores perceived barriers to implementation of these recommendations and potential solutions.

A formative evaluation of a nurse practitioner-led interprofessional geriatric outpatient clinic.

The number of older adults with multiple complex comorbidities and frailty is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decades, which will necessitate a concomitant increase in the need for skilled clinicians who are able to manage complex geriatric needs. Many physicians, however, lack the required formal training, often leading to long wait-lists for specialist clinics. Yet, clinics led by non-physician professionals specialising in geriatric care could decrease these delays.

The development of probiotics for women's health.

The idea you could use lactic acid bacteria to treat and prevent recurrence of vaginal infections was ridiculed in the early 1980s. Bacteria were the bad guys to be eradicated by current and emerging antibiotic classes. Thirty years later, probiotic administration of microbes is widespread worldwide, including for vaginal and bladder health in women, and the scientific basis and clinical efficacy data for this and multiple other applications prove the viability of this concept.

Caregiver availability for severe stroke results in improved functional ability at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

Purpose: To evaluate the predictive capacity of caregiver availability on functional ability at time of discharge from inpatient rehabilitation in individuals with severe first-time stroke.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of severe stroke inpatients admitted to a stroke rehabilitation unit between April 2005 and December 2009. Follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with patients to determine caregiver availability at time of discharge.

The effect of matrix metalloproteinase-3 deficiency on pulmonary surfactant in a mouse model of acute lung injury.

The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by arterial hypoxemia accompanied by severe inflammation and alterations to the pulmonary surfactant system. Published data has demonstrated a protective effect of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (Mmp3) deficiency against the inflammatory response associated with ARDS; however, the effect of Mmp3 on physiologic parameters and alterations to surfactant have not been previously studied. It was hypothesized that Mmp3 deficient (Mmp3(-/-)) mice would be protected against lung dysfunction associated with ARDS and maintain a functional pulmonary surfactant system.

Correlates of depressive symptoms in individuals attending outpatient stroke clinics.

Background and purpose Depressive symptoms are common post-stroke. We examined stroke deficits and lifestyle factors that are independent predictors for depressive symptomology. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for patients' post-stroke who attended outpatient clinics at a hospital in Southwestern Ontario between 1 January 2014 and 30 September 2014.

The stroke impact scale: performance as a quality of life measure in a community-based stroke rehabilitation setting.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS).

Methods: Data was derived from a study assessing a community-based stroke rehabilitation program. Patients were administered the SIS and Euroqol-5D (EQ-5D-5L) on admission to the study, and at six month and 12 month follow-up.

Associations between heart rate variability, metabolic syndrome risk factors, and insulin resistance.

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in heart rate variability (HRV) in metabolic syndrome (MetS) and to determine associations between HRV parameters, MetS risk factors, and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR)). Participants (n = 220; aged 23-70 years) were assessed for MetS risk factors (waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and 5-min supine HRV (time and frequency domain and nonlinear). HRV was compared between those with 3 or more (MetS+) and those with 2 or fewer MetS risk factors (MetS-).

Screening and facilitating further assessment for cognitive impairment after stroke: application of a shortened Montreal Cognitive Assessment (miniMoCA).

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the performance of a shortened version of the MoCA (miniMoCA), as a clinical cognitive impairment screening tool in stroke rehabilitation patients.

Methods: Cognitive status was assessed using the MoCA and Cognistat in 72 patients. Agreement between the tests was assessed using the Kappa statistic.